A quick look back at 2011
This past year has offered bountiful opportunities for Christian Aid and Relief to share God's grace and compassion with people in need all around the world. We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on God's undeserved love to us as we reflect on the blessings of 2011.

Here at home
Tornados in the South, flooding in the North, and wild fires in the Southwest were the big disasters in the U.S. this year. (There was one hurricane that did substantial damage along the east coast). More than anything, the tornados and flooding were the disasters we were asked to assist with.

WELS and ELS volunteers, with little notification, traveled to Madison; Alabama; and Joplin, Mo., to assist the members of our churches. To be able to reach out to the people in these ravaged communities, with acts of Christian compassion and service, was truly amazing.

Our churches in South Dakota and in and around Minot, N.D., saw flood waters in the Spring that filled houses, businesses, and farms with water and mud. Church members came to each other’s aid and also reached out to those in need in their communities. Christian Aid and Relief sent financial assistance to help with the cleanup and stood ready to send volunteers if needed.

In addition to responding to the natural disasters, Christian Aid and Relief continued to respond to the ongoing humanitarian needs of our WELS members and of those in their communities.

Last year we distributed more than $138,500 in aid to our members, called workers, and community friends for such challenges as critical uninsured health problems and financial burdens due to lost jobs.

International
The big international stories for us this past year were the horrific earthquake/tsunami that hit Japan in May and the ongoing relief and humanitarian aid work in Haiti. Also, this was the first full year that Christian Aid and Relief was involved with humanitarian aid projects in our World Mission settings.

To date, $350,000 has been allocated to the ongoing relief response in Japan. Through our WELS Missionary, Rev. Brad Wordell, and our sister church body, the Lutheran Evangelical Christian Church of Japan (LECC), disaster relief supplies and projects have been distributed and established in the severely damaged areas around Sendei and Kesennuma. WELS Japanese speaking volunteers are currently being sent to assist with relief efforts and to help run a Christian Center the LECC opened in the area. The WELS Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) has also assisted the relief effort by organizing a “quilt drive” that produced more than 200 quilts from congregational members in Canada and the U.S. These quilts were shipped to the center and then distributed.

This month’s (January) WELS Connection features the ongoing humanitarian aid and Gospel bridge-building work in Haiti. Christian Aid and Relief is providing funding for a nutritional program for over 100 Haitian children housed in 21 orphanages in the town of Leogane. Missionaries Terry Schultz and Rona Abraham continue to bring God’s word, instruction, and baptism to these precious souls and their caretakers.

Christian Aid and Relief is also providing nearly $260,000 this year for humanitarian aid projects around the world. These projects help our missionaries and sister church bodies bridge the Gospel to the un-churched in our mission fields. These projects include fresh water wells, medical clinics, Christian community centers, and the publication and distribution of Christian literature.

In Summary
The Lord has truly blessed us with a year of opportunities to share his love, compassion, and most importantly, his Word with those in need. We hope and pray that in 2012, He continues to motivate us to “Therefore, do good to all people.” And, to also “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Christian Aid and Relief relies solely on direct gifts from donors. To help us continue our work around the world, you can give a gift online or sign up to volunteer.

There are no words that can adequately thank you enough for your support of this ministry. We pray that the Lord continue to bless you and move you to do so. As he does, we will continue to put every effort into bringing Christian aid and Relief as a bridge to God’s holy Gospel to the world.

Mr. Mark Vance, director of operations for Christian Aid and Relief